When it comes to portraying icons, the devil really is in the details.
And fans of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy are letting Ryan Murphy know exactly how they feel about the latest portrayal of her in his new anthology series, American Love Story.
The series is currently filming in New York, and let’s just say—it hasn’t exactly won over the internet.
A Glimpse Into American Love Story
The show, which dives into the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette, stars Paul Anthony Kelly as John Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn.
Murphy dropped a first look this week, complete with camera test photos and behind-the-scenes peeks. It’s slated to premiere in February 2026 on FX and Hulu.
But it wasn’t long before fans zeroed in on one thing: the fashion. And not in a good way.
Social Media Is Not Having It
The moment photos of Sarah Pidgeon on set hit the internet—wearing a gold satin skirt, black top, black leather-style jacket, and, perhaps most controversially, Converse sneakers—fans went ballistic.
“CBK in Converse… and a pleather blazer?” one fan wrote.
Another called the wardrobe choices “rage bait,” accusing the production of deliberately courting controversy by straying so far from Carolyn’s famously polished, minimalist style.
Some fans went as far as to say they were “personally offended” by the styling, while others questioned why the production team didn’t simply replicate Carolyn’s well-documented real-life looks from the ’90s.
Murphy Fires Back
Ryan Murphy, never one to shy away from criticism, responded through Variety, explaining that sometimes things on set aren’t that deep.
He acknowledged that certain accessories, like the wrong-sized Birkin bag, were simply used out of convenience during filming.
“People are writing, ‘How dare you use the No. 35 Birkin bag? She wore a 40!’ Yes, we have a 40,” Murphy said.
“We just threw on a bag from another costume department because that was the sound stage we were on.”
He also reminded critics that his team is putting a lot of effort into sourcing vintage pieces and replicating wear and tear where necessary.
“They’re doing to our Carolyn what they did to the real-life Carolyn. It’s not fair,” he added.
Did Carolyn Actually Wear Converse?
Interestingly, some fans and fashion historians came to Murphy’s defense.
It turns out, Carolyn did wear Converse sneakers during her early days at Calvin Klein.
According to Elizabeth Beller’s biography Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, she often styled her Chucks with flowing skirts and dresses.
There’s even mention of her pairing a midi skirt with sneakers and a fitted leather jacket—pretty close to what Sarah Pidgeon wore in that now-viral scene.
More Scenes, More Looks
The controversy didn’t stop filming. The following night, Sarah was spotted in heels and a dress while shooting another scene, possibly to better reflect Carolyn’s iconic style.
Ryan Murphy also shared a series of stills on Instagram showing both stars in camera tests.
Paul Kelly looks strikingly similar to JFK Jr. in several outfits, including a sharp gray suit and another dressed-down look in jeans and a vest.
The Legacy Behind the Story
John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were the closest thing America had to royalty in the 1990s.
Their love story captivated the public, from their secret 1996 wedding in Georgia to their tragic deaths in a plane crash in 1999 alongside Carolyn’s sister, Lauren.
The show aims to retell that story—romantic, tragic, and full of style—through a modern lens.
But judging by fan reaction, every detail matters, especially when you’re dealing with two of the most beloved figures in American pop culture.
Even the Kennedys Have Weighed In
Jack Schlossberg, JFK Jr.’s nephew, chimed in on Instagram, urging Ryan Murphy to consider donating profits to the Kennedy Library.
Murphy responded in the comments: “@jackuno I absolutely will.”
It’s clear the series has struck a nerve—both emotionally and stylistically.